6 Ways to Include Birth Families in Holiday Celebrations

Send your child’s birth family a homemade gift with your child’s handprint or footprint. Not only will they be able to see how much your child has grown, they’ll have a seasonal reminder of how much they’re loved.

Whether it’s via Facetime, Google Hangouts, or in person, invite your child’s birth family to participate in your holiday traditions. They may not always take you up on the offer for dinner or cookie-baking, but invitations for involvement can be thoughtful.

Find out what your child’s birth family does each year for the holidays. Is there a certain meal they cook? Do they have a fun tradition of watching holiday movies in their pajamas the week before Christmas? Incorporate one of their family traditions into your own family.

As your family reflects on the year, share some snapshots of memories you’ve made together with your child’s birth family. Consider sending candid photographs or design a book online. Include photos of your child’s milestones, family vacations and candid photographs that are bound to make them smile.

If distance or another barrier prevents you from sharing the holidays with your child’s birth family, consider celebrating their presence in another way. Whether it’s a recordable story book recorded by your child’s birth family or a special holiday ornament that marks the year you became a family, take time to embrace, honor, and celebrate your child’s birth family this holiday season.